Spring heel



April 19,1927. 1,625,048

' J. R. NOCK SPRING HEEL.

Filed March 13, 1926 INVENTOR.

Jpmv If. Merv.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNIT STATES JOHN R. NOCK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SEEING HEEL.

Application filed March 13, 1926. Serial No. 94,609.

This invention relates to shoe heels and in particular to a type embodying a spring member which will give a cushioning effect to the wearer during walking.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a strong, durable spring heel which will relieve the jars commonly received by the spine during walking and which will thereby afford greater comfort to the feet and will conserve the energy of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strong metallic spring heel which. will form a yieldable support for the heel of the shoe and will also act as a ground gripping agent whereby slipping is prevented.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means in connection with a bent spring heel whereby mud and dirt cannot accumulate between the leaves of the spring so that the compressible action of the heel is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring heel which can be stamped out of metal and bent to position whereby it may be readily placed on the heel of a shoe without employing the large number of tack fasteners in present day use.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features of my invention that they may embody the same in the various modifications in structure and relation contemplated, a drawing depicting a preferred form has been annexed as a part of this disclosure and in such drawing similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout all of the views, of which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a shoe equipped with m improved spring heel,

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the spring heel showing the construction portion 6 of which is secured my improved spring heel 7 This spring heel consists of an upper shoe engaging portion 8, at the rear end of which is punched out or otherwise provided a shoe engaging lip 9, having an opening 10 therein through which is passed a fastening member 11, which secures the rear end of the shoe with the adjacent portion of the spring heel. The forward end of the upper portion 8 is extended as at 12 and is provided with the openings 13 whereby the heel may be attached to the sole 14 of the shoe through the medium of the suitable fastening members 15.

The spring heel is preferably made of spring steel tempered to the shape illustrated, which is a substantially Z shape and comprising the central obliquely disposed portion 16, which connects the upper port-ion 8 with the ground engaging member 17, the latter of which at its rear end is provided with the upturned edge 18, which prevents the heel from catching or digging into the ground. It will be observed that this spring heel can be made of one piece of strip metal bent to the form shown and suitably punched to provide the lip member 9 and a plurality of raised rib members, one of which is provided in the upper portion 8 of the spring heel and depends therefrom, this rib being indicated as at 19. The inter mediate portion 16 of the heel is provided with a like rib 20 and the round engaging member 17 is provided with a centrally disposed raised rib 21, having transverse extensions 22, all of which go to make up a ground gripping plate which engages the ground and prevents slipping of the heel. It will be noted that the depending rib 19, when the heel is depressed, will move towards the intermediate portion 16 and will force any mud or dirt over the sides thereof which has accumulated between the upper portion 8 and said intermediate portion. The same thing will occur between the intermediate portion and the ground engaging portion 17, in the former of which is disposed the depending rib 20 and in the latter of which is formed the upstanding rib 21 and its projected ribs 22. It will be evident, therefore, that the accumulation of mud and dirt between the opposing portions of the spring heel will be prevented and also that the rib 21 and its extension 22 will provide a ground gripping element which will prevent slipping ot'the heel as is common with a smooth bottom heel.

In Figure 6 I have shown a spring heel member 23 made in the same manner as the spring heel shown in Figure 1 which may have incorporated therein the same type of ribs which will expel the dirt or other accumulation occurring between the opposing portions of said heel. Thelower-portion 2-lof the heel is adapted to carry a suitable rubber heel or heel plate 525, made of any suitable material, so that the noise produced in the contact of the heel with the sidewall; or road during walking is eliminated.

It will be evident, therefore, that 1 have pro ided an in'iproved spring heel which will absorb the shock normally transmitted to the wearer of a solid heel and one which will prevent slipping.

While I have illustrated and (:lescrioed my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize-that in practise various alterations therein may be made. I, therefore, reserve the right and privilege out changing the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing 'fI'OlIl the spirit of the invention or the scope of the a ppendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is,

l. A shoe heel consisting of a strip of metal. bent to lJl'OVlt'lO opposing portions one of which is adapted to be attached :lo a shoe and one oi said portions constituting;' a ground engaging member, and outstruck rib ine'inbers formed longitudinally of said opposing heel portions. i

2. A shoe heel consisting of a strip oi inetal bent to provide opposing. portions, one oi" which adapted to lie-attached to a shoe, and one of said portions constituting; a grown engaging member and outstruck, coinciding rib inen'ibers formed insaid opposing heel portion for preventing accumulation of .dirt between said opposing portions. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

- JOHNB. NOOK. [Ii 3. 

